Our total anticipated allocation for the 2023-24 school year is $891,537, which translates to 165 seats for four-year-old students.  Again, this is all anticipated and tentative, and is awaiting final approval via the New York State budget.

Although we have received allocation in the recent past, we have not been able to run a program due to space constraints within the District and other logistical and cost concerns communicated by our community-based partners.

Under NYSED’s regulations, the per pupil allocation is $5,400.  This means that there are a maximum of 165 full day slots available given this anticipated allocation.

Yes and No.  It is looking like we may be able to house some Pre-K students on campus, and we are vigorously pursuing that possibility.  However, even if we are able to house Pre-K students on campus, we will not be able to house all students for which there is funding.  As a result, the District has issued a Request for Proposal to eligible organizations within the Brewster area.  It is our hope that one or more of these organizations have the capacity to host some Pre-K "seats" for our eligible four-year-old students.

what Brewster will be able to accommodate on campus?
Request for Proposals (RFPs) were sent to all eligible agencies within the Brewster CSD boundaries during the first week in May.  This is aligned to the process outlined here in the Commissioner's Regulations for soliciting proposals.  Proposals are due by Friday, June 9th at 3:00pm.

Full-Day Prekindergarten (SUFDPK - Education Law 3602-ee) and the Federal Expansion grant?
New York State, in partnership with the Federal Government, has worked in the last several years to expand funding for Pre-K programs.  Over 230 districts were offered funding for the first time in the 2021-22 school year under the Federal Expansion grant.  The SUFDPK refers to funding that was previously available to districts through NYSED.  Brewster has not received SUFDPK funding in the past nor is it anticipated that we will receive an allocation for the 2023-24 school year.

A memo from the Office of Early Learning on this topic can be found here.  The BCSD will support nap time for any on-campus programs, and will strongly encourage any community-based program to implement nap time for any on-campus programs, and will strongly encourage any community-based program to implement nap time into their daily schedule in accordance with these guidelines as well.

Per the Commissioner’s Regulations, (d) Class size.

(1) The maximum class size for a prekindergarten class is 20 children. For classes of up to 18 students, there must be one teacher and one paraprofessional assigned to each class. For classes of 19 or 20 students, there must be one teacher and two paraprofessionals assigned to each class.

Per the Commissioner’s Regulations, (e) Staff qualifications.

(1) Prekindergarten teachers providing instruction through this Part shall possess:

     (i) a teaching license or certificate valid for service in the early childhood grades pursuant to Part 80 of this Title; or

     (ii) a teaching license or certificate for students with disabilities valid for service in early childhood grades pursuant to Part 80 of this Title; or

     (iii) for eligible agencies collaborating with the district to provide prekindergarten services, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education  or a related field, or a teaching license or certificate valid for services in the childhood grades pursuant to Part 80 of this Title, and a written plan to obtain a certification valid for service in the early childhood grades within five years; or

     (iv) eligible agencies collaborating with the district to provide prekindergarten services and licensed by an agency other than the State Education Department may employ staff who meet the standards of the licensing or registering agency, until the beginning of the 2008 - 2009 school year, at which time all prekindergarten teachers shall meet the qualifications set forth in subparagraphs (i)-(iii) of this paragraph.

(2) Until all universal prekindergarten teachers at an eligible agency site possess a teaching license or certificate valid for services in the early childhood or childhood grades, the agencies operating such programs shall employ an on-site education director during the hours that the prekindergarten program is in operation that will be responsible for program implementation. The on-site director shall possess a teaching license or certificate valid for services in the early childhood or childhood grades pursuant to Part 80 of this Title.

Per the Commissioner’s Regulations, (a) All buildings, premises, equipment and furnishings used for the universal prekindergarten program shall be safe and suitable for the comfort and care of the children, shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act and shall be provided and maintained in a state of good repair and sanitation.

(c) Except for schools in the city of New York, buildings and classrooms operated by the school district, but located off school grounds, shall meet the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (9 NYCRR Parts 600 through 1250), section 151-2.7 of this Part and section 155.7 of this Title or its equivalent (notwithstanding the exemption for schools in cities with populations over 125,000 persons) and Part 418 of the regulations of the Department of Social Services (18 NYCRR Part 418).

(e) Buildings and classrooms operated by eligible agencies shall meet all applicable fire safety and building codes and any applicable facility requirements of a State or local licensing or registering agency.

will be welcome and integrated into any Pre-K program?
This expectation is outlined in the Commissioner’s Regulations:

(e) Integration of children with disabilities. The environment and learning activities of the prekindergarten program shall be designed to promote and increase inclusion and integration of preschool children with disabilities.

(f) The program shall be designed to ensure that participating children with limited English proficiency are provided equal access to the program and opportunities to achieve the same program goals and standards as other participating children.

Per the Commissioner’s Regulations, the length of the school day is a minimum of five instructional hours per day.

that we will be contracting with?
Teachers, leaders and staff are expected to participate in District provided professional development days, including Superintendent Conference days.  The curriculum utilized and the instructional day will look very similar to any on-campus Pre-K program that is offered.

If that is the case, we will focus solely on any potential on-campus option.

If this is the case, then we will coordinate and provide oversight so that the instructional day, curricular materials and teacher qualifications are consistent across locations.

capacity?
If that is the case, we will have a lottery to determine enrollment.

location they would like for their child to attend?
Parents will have the choice when signing up for the lottery to indicate their order of preference for which location(s) they wish for their child to attend.